Despite the fact both boast a rich European history, the pair had only ever crossed paths once, this in 2014, prior to the inaugural Europa Conference League Final in 2022, with Roma prevailing 1-0 in Tirana.

Then, as fate would have it, they met again last season, clashing in the quarter-finals of this competition, with I Giallorossi prevailing once more, requiring extra time to overturn a narrow first leg defeat.

Fair to say, Feyenoord supporters are hoping it is third time lucky.

The Eredivisie champions have dropped down from the Champions League, beating both Celtic and Lazio at home, but three defeats out of three on the road condemned them to third.

It’s 22 year since Feyenoord won the UEFA Cup, with Arne Slot’s side hoping to recapture former glories.

Roma meanwhile, as mentioned, were Europa Conference League winners two seasons ago, before getting to last year’s Europa League Final, only to be heartbreakingly beaten by Sevilla on penalties in Budapest.

All of this was achieved by José Mourinho but, following a poor run of results, he was sacked last month.

Interim boss and club legend Daniele De Rossi then won his first three matches in charge, before this perfect start came to an end on Saturday, defeat 4-2 by Inter at Stadio Olimpico.

Back when Mourinho was at the helm, I Giallorossi only managed to finish second in their Europa League group, two points below Slavia Prague, hence why they are involved in this rematch.

Feyenoord will believe it’s vitally important that they claim a first leg lead at De Kuip.

Feyenoord to win

1st selection

19/20

Both teams to score

2nd selection

4/5

Both teams to receive a card

3rd selection

1/5

At 15/4, a £10 bet would return £47.50

Feyenoord vs Roma Bet Builder

15/4

AC Milan vs Stade Rennais betting tips

Few clubs can match AC Milan for European pedigree, given that they’ve picked up seven Champions League titles, two Cup Winners’ Cups, five UEFA Super Cups and four world titles.

However, I Rossoneri have never won this competition in 12 attempts, ousted in the semi-finals in both 1972 and 2002, but they are determined to make it lucky number 13.

Stefano Pioli’s side featured in the Champions League’s group of death back in autumn, failing to win any of their first three fixtures before beating both PSG at home and then Newcastle away to salvage third place.

Domestically meanwhile, Milan are unbeaten in nine, winning seven of them, so are third in Serie A, ten points clear of fourth but eight points adrift the leaders, thereby allowing them to focus on the Europa League.

Stade Rennais meanwhile are competing in Europe for a sixth successive season, something the club had never previously achieved, but, to date, they’ve only ever won one knockout tie, defeating Real Betis five years ago.

This season, les Rouge et Noirs came second in their group, a point below Villarreal who beat them both home and away, but only after Rennes had a last-gasp equaliser disallowed by VAR on matchday six.

In Ligue 1, Julien Stéphan’s side have won five on the spin, propelling themselves back into the top four race, so will travel to San Siro full of confidence, even if Milan are big favourites to prevail.

AC Milan to win

1st selection

4/6

Over 2.5 goals

2nd selection

17/20

Rafael Leão to score anytime

3rd selection

15/8

At 15/4, a £10 bet would return £47.50

AC Milan vs Stade Rennais Bet Builder

15/4

Lens vs Freiburg betting tips

Both of these clubs see it as a great achievement that they are involved in European competition, so neither will want their continental adventure to end prematurely.

Lens returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2002, picking up seven points at home, including beating both Arsenal and Sevilla, thereby pipping the serial Europa League winners to third spot.

Across all competitions, les Sang et Or have lost only three of their last 38 home games, these defeats coming at the hands of Metz, PSG and Nice, making Franck Haise’s team firm favourites to win this one.

Freiburg meanwhile have qualified for the Europa League group phase in back-to-back seasons but, following defeat to Juventus 12 months ago, are seeking to win a first-ever knockout phase tie.

Christian Streich’s side did win four of their six group matches this time round, but two defeats at the hands of West Ham meant they had to settle for second.

Meantime, in the Bundesliga, Breisgau-Brasilianer have now lost three on the spin, following a 3-0 hammering at Borussia Dortmund on Friday night, which is far from ideal preparation for this tricky trip to Northern France.

Everything points towards a home win at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Lens to win

1st selection

3/4

Over 2.5 goals

2nd selection

19/20

Elye Wahi to score anytime

3rd selection

7/4

At 15/4, a £10 bet would return £47.50

Lens vs Freiburg Bet Builder

15/4

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Olympique Marseille betting tips

Given the backdrop of the ongoing Russian invasion, it remains remarkable that Shakhtar Donetsk are able to compete at European level, even if they have to do so 1,396 miles from home.

The Ukrainian champions managed to win three of their six Champions League group games, most-notably beating Barcelona 1-0, Danylo Sikan the only scorer, but they had to settle for third place.

However, due to the elongated winter break, this’ll be Shakhtar’s first fixture for 64 days, meaning Marino Pušić's side are tasked with an uphill battle at their temporary home of Volksparkstadion.

Olympique de Marseille therefore will be hoping to leave Hamburg in a good position, after they finished second in their Europa League group, unbeaten through five matches, only for a last minute defeat in Brighton to deny them first place.

Gennaro Gattuso’s team are in terrible form domestically, failing to win any of their last five Ligue 1 matches, also dumped out the Coupe de France during this period, so badly needing an improved performance here.

With the second leg to come at Stade Vélodrome, les Phocéens would probably settle for a draw in Northern Germany.

Both teams to score

1st selection

3/4

Over 2.5 goals

2nd selection

9/10

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score anytime

3rd selection

13/8

At 16/5, a £10 bet would return £42

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Olympique de Marseille Bet Builder

16/5

Benfica vs Toulouse betting tips

Since retaining the European Cup in 1962, Benfica have lost in all eight European finals in which they’ve featured, this accredited to Béla Guttmann’s 100-year curse, so can they break the hoodoo this season?

Roger Schmidt’s team were frankly terrible in the Champions League group phase, losing their first four matches, but still managed to snatch third, courtesy of a 3-1 win over RB Salzburg in Austria on matchday six.

Domestically, As Águias are currently top of the Primeira Liga, above fierce rivals Sporting on goal difference having played one game more, but Benfica are always under pressure to do well on the continent too.

In contrast, this is Toulouse’s first appearance in UEFA competition since 2009/10, making it a noteworthy. achievement for them to get this far.

Le Téfécé came second in their group, most memorably beating Liverpool 3-2 at home, so last year’s Coupe de France winners are on the cusp of reaching the last 16 in any European tournament for the first time ever.

Given that Carles Martínez Novell’s team are 14th in Ligue 1, just a point clear of the drop zone, they travel to Estádio da Luz as big underdogs.

Benfica to win

1st selection

1/3

Both teams to score NO

2nd selection

7/10

Rafa Silva to score anytime

3rd selection

7/4

At 4/1, a £10 bet would return £50

Benfica vs Toulouse Bet Builder

4/1

Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague betting tips

The champions of Türkiye and Czechia go head-to-head in Istanbul in a tie that looks tough to call.

It’s 24 years since Galatasaray won this competition, but they might just have put together a squad capable of repeating this feat.

After coming through three rounds of qualifying, Okan Buruk’s team did only win once in the group phase, this a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford, before a thrilling and chaotic 3-3 draw with Manchester United at home saw them pip the English side to third place.

Amazingly, it’s 11 years since Galatasaray last won a knockout stage tie, this against Schalke in the Champions League, but they are slight favourites to change that fact here.

For Sparta Prague, getting into the Champions League group phase for the first time since 2005 is the holy grail, a dream that was dashed by Copenhagen in qualifying, heartbreakingly ousted on penalties in August.

Instead, Brian Priske’s side had to settle for Europa League football, winning three of their six matches, beating Aris Limassol twice while, most crucially, defeating Real Betis at home.

Given that these two are evenly-matched, Galatasaray will feel a home win at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi is imperative.

Galatasaray to win

1st selection

4/6

Both teams to score

2nd selection

4/5

Mauro Icardi to score anytime

3rd selection

6/5

At 4/1, a £10 bet would return £50

Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague Bet Builder

4/1

Young Boys vs Sporting CP betting tips

Sporting Clube de Portugal reached the quarter-finals of this competition just last season, eventually dumped out by Juventus, so how far will they go this time?

This season, Rúben Amorim’s team only lost once in the group stages, but were pipped to first place by Atalanta, failing to beat the Italian side in either head-to-head meeting.

Domestically meanwhile, the Leões have won seven on the spin, leaving them joint-top the Primeira Liga, alongside fierce rivals Benfica, albeit with a game in hand, chasing just a fourth title in 42 years.

As for hosts BSC Young Boys, they’re very much on course for a sixth Swiss Super League title in only seven seasons, currently seven points clear of second placed Servette.

In Europe, by beating Maccabi Haifa in the play-off round, Raphaël Wicky’s team got into the Champions League, finishing third, above Crvena zvezda, thanks to a 2-0 victory when the Serbian side visited Bern.

Given that Sporting are favourites, Young Boys need to make home advantage count at Stadion Wankdorf.

Viktor Gyökeres to score anytime

1st selection

13/10

Both teams to score

2nd selection

8/13

Over 2.5 goals

3rd selection

4/6

At 5/2, a £10 bet would return £35

BSC Young Boys vs Sporting Clube de Portugal Bet Builder

5/2

Braga vs Qarabag betting tips

Lastly, we turn our attention to Northern Portugal, where 2011 runners-up Braga are hoping this is the start of another long foray into the knockout phase.

13 years ago, the Archbishops got all the way to this final of this competition, beaten by local rivals Porto, so, as the final returns to Dublin, can they go all the way this time?

By beating TSC and Panathinaikos in qualifying, Artur Jorge’s team featured in the Champions League group phase, the first time since 2012 Braga had achieved this, coming from 2-0 down to beat Union Berlin at Olympiastadion, with this, their sole victory, enough to secure third.

Qarabağ meantime are aiming to win a knockout tie for the first time, previously dumped out by Marseille and Gent in this round of the Europa Conference League in the last two seasons.

By finishing second in their group, above Molde and BK Häcken, the Horseman have got into the Europa League knockouts for the first time ever, but Gurban Gurbanov’s Azeri champions are big underdogs.

Given that Qarabağ have won only seven of their last 29 European away games, excluding qualifiers, an emphatic home win is expected at Estádio Municipal de Braga.

Braga to win

1st selection

4/11

Both teams to score NO

2nd selection

4/5

Simon Banza to score anytime

3rd selection

1/1

At 3/1, a £10 bet would return £40

Braga vs Qarabağ Bet Builder

3/1

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